Trade Facilitaion in Asia and the Pacific: Which Policies and Measures affect Trade Costs the Most?

Abstract

This paper presents findings from an initial analysis of new non-tariff trade cost estimates and their determinants, based on a bilateral database of comprehensive trade cost maintained by ESCAP. Although trade costs consist for the most part of non-tariff trade costs, tariff cuts accounted for a very significant portion of trade costs reduction between 1996-99 and 2004-07.Trade Cost, Trade Facilitation